NFL free agency roundup: News and notes
We are almost done with the first week of NFL free agency, and almost all of the big names are off the board. In fact, some of the biggest names out there now are players who were on teams a week ago, namely Tyrann Mathieu and Ndamukong Suh.
So what have we learned through the first five days of free agency? Let’s hit some topics.
The New York Jets might not be ready to compete for anything meaningful in 2018, but they are getting better. New York was able to retain quarterback Josh McCown while adding Teddy Bridgewater to the run, an intriguing 25-year-old with a high ceiling. General manager Mike Maccagnan also added Trumaine Johnson and Avery Williamson on the defensive side, giving Jets fans reason for optimism.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had more than $70 million in cap space coming into the free agency period, and the defense remains a major concern. The Buccaneers had to find a way to add some pass-rushing help alongside Noah Spence and Gerald McCoy, but the team with the league’s lowest sack total in 2017 failed to do so. If Tampa Bay doesn’t find help in that department (or for its secondary) in the draft, head coach Dirk Koetter will be looking for work come January.
They may not say it, but the Arizona Cardinals are readying for a rebuild. It’s arguable that the Cardinals are the only NFC team without a franchise quarterback at the helm, and signing the duo of Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon isn’t changing that fact. Factor in the release of Mathieu and a new head coach in Steve Wilks, and the Cardinals are settling in for a few tough seasons.
It’s hard not to be impressed by the Minnesota Vikings. After a surprise trip to the NFC Championship Game, the Vikings aren’t sitting still. Minnesota has enjoyed a fruitful week, signing Kirk Cousins to a full-guaranteed three-year deal that could be worth a total of $90 million, and then landed defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson on a one-year pact on Friday. If Minnesota isn’t the favorite to win the NFC North next season, it’s only because Aaron Rodgers is superhuman.
Finally, we’ve seen the Pittsburgh Steelers sit in silence. Pittsburgh used most of its cap space to give Le’Veon Bell the franchise tag, and it’s hindered the ability to go out and help the defense. The Steelers may only have another year or two with Ben Roethlisberger (and likely one with Bell), making this the right time to go all in. Instead, it appears the cap situation has Pittsburgh stuck in neutral.
